2018 Audi Q5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 73,205 MOT tests, the 2018 Audi Q5 recorded a 91.2% pass rate. That is 1.4 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.2%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and lighting & signalling (2.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 1,693 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 0-30k band and 12.5% in the 150k+ band, a 5.8-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.3% of the time against 9.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 2,824 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 1,465 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 1,426 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 1,119 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 740 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 614 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 1,693 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,294 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,281 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 805 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 581 |
| 6 | Wipers | 479 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 19.1% | 13,945 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 10,475 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.7% | 7,131 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 2,967 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 2,389 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 622 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 20,664 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 37,110 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 12,825 | 11.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,151 | 12.3% |
| 120-150k | 370 | 13.0% |
| 150k+ | 80 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 39,330 | 9.3% |
| Petrol | 33,875 | 8.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,088 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 14,801 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 14,549 | 8.8% |
| 2024 | 14,364 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 14,403 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Q5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2018 Audi Q5s pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 73,205 2018 Audi Q5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Audi Q5?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 2018 Q5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,205 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.